Centering guide for flush valves



Nov. 9, 1937. I ca. c. KINSFATHER 2,098,687

CENTERING GUIDE FOR FLUSH VALVES Filed March 14 1956 z 30 C a L mmnmm l 27 Ill l/Tizyi. l5 /3 fi F a- Z6 INVENTOR GEORGE C. K/NSFA THER .4 T TORNEYS Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to flush tanks and more particularly to the flush valves thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device by which a. flush valve can be accurately guided centrally in relation to its seat while utilizing the overflow tube of the seat as a support, and irrespective of the diameter of the overflow tube and of variations inthe center to center distance between the seat and overflow tube, all in such manner as to fully compensate for variation in the dimensions of combined seat and overflow units as produced by difierent manufacturers, thus rendering the centering guide capable of universal use and obviating the added expense and inconvenience of carrying a number of different sizes of guides in stock in order to supply the demand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centering guide of the above described character which is structurally characterized in a manner to render it easily adjustable to accurately accommodate all conditions met with in practice so as to render its use extremely convenient for the plumber in installing a flush tank.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements as set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In-the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a view showing in vertical section a portion of a flush tank with one form of centering guide embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, and illustrating a diiferent form of adjustment of the centering guide to accommodate an overflow tube of different diameter and at a different distance from the center of the seat than is shown in Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, this invention in its present embodiment is shown associated with a conventional flush tank II] on the bottom ll of which an annular valve seat I2 is secured by means of a nut I3 threaded on a depending extension I4 of the seat. Formed integral with the seat is a lateral projection l5 defining an overflow passage 16 opening into the tank outlet I Go defined by the seat. Threaded in or otherwise secured to the projection I5 is a vertically disposed overflow tube l1. Coacting with the seat I2 is a valve or ball I 8 to which is secured a stem l9, the upper end of which is provided with a head 20. A lift wire 2| having an eye 22 receives the stem for coaction therewith in raising the valve Hi from the seat l2 upon actuation of a handle (not shown) suitably mounted in an accessible position on the tank I ll and operatively connected to the lift wire 2|, all of which will be clearly understood by those familiar with the art.

At this point it is to be noted that the diameter of the overflow tube I! as well asv the center to center distance between the overflow tube and the seat 12 vary in products of different manufacturers. This fact is the source of much difliculty in providing for the accurate guiding of the stem l9 in order to insure that the ball l8 will be coaxially arranged with respect to the seat for accurate and dependable operation. It will be manifest that as a result of inaccurate guiding of the stem that the ball may either stick in a raised position or seat ofi center and thus fail to close the outlet l6a. This invention provides a universal centering guide for obviating these disadvantages.

The centering guide embodying this invention comprises a two part clamp C, one part 23 of which constitutes a jaw having two right angularly related flat portions 24-24 at the free ends of which are ears 25-25 having threaded openings 26-26 therethrough for the reception of clamp screws 21-21.

The other part 28 of the clamp constitutes a second jaw having two right angularly related jaw portions 29-29 at the free end of one of which is an ear 30 having an opening 3| through which one of the clamp screws 21 is adapted to freely pass. From the free end of the other jaw portion 29 projects an arm 32 having an opening 33 for the free passage of the other one of the clamp screws. At the free end of the arm is a guide sleeve 34 through which the valve stem is can freely slide and be guided for rectilinear movement. It is to be noted that the cross sec tional area of the arm as well as the material from which the arm is constructed are such as to render the arm capable of being bent laterally to vary the center to center distance between the guide sleeves 34 and the jaws of the clamp C.

In practice, the parts 23 and 28 of the clamp C are applied to the overflow tube H at the proper elevation and the screws 21-2! tightened. Due tothe flat jaw portions 24-24 and 29-29 of therespective clamp parts, the tube will be firmly gripped and the clamp rigidly supported from the tube against tilting and with the arm 32 disposed horizontally or at a right angle to the tube and irrespective of the variations in tube diameters in products of different manufacturers.

Should the distance from the center of the overflow tube to the center of the seat 12 be less than the distance from the center of the tube to that of the sleeve 34, as can be readily determined by working the stem I9 back and forth in the sleeve and noting whether the ball seats properly and the stem moves freely in the sleeve, the clamp screws are slightly loosened to permit rotation of theclamp on the tube, following which the arm 32 can be bent laterally by the use of a pair of pliers or the jaws of a wrench until the two distances correspond as shown in Figure 3. When the necessary adjustment has been'made and the sleeve centered directly above the seat,'the clamp screws are again tightenedand the assemblyis complete. 1

It should be noted that the length of the arm prior to being bent is calculated to fit the greatest center to center distance between the overflow tube and seat encountered in practice so that should the distance be less than the maximum in a particular installation, it is only necessary to effect the necessary amount of bending of the arm to compensate for the difference. It is again pointed out that the provision of the angularly related flat faced jaw portions enables different diametered overflow tubes to be adequately compensated for while insuring that the tube will be so firmly gripped at four spaced points circumferentially that the clamp will be rigidly supported from the tube against tilting. Thus will the sleeve 34 be rigidly supported to maintain alinement with the seat under operating conditions.

Iclaim: i v 1. A centering guide for the flush valves of flush tanks having a seat for the valve and a vertical overflow tube disposed at one side of the seat, comprising a two part clamp, each part of which is provided with angularly related fiat jaw portions; clamp screws passing through one of said parts and threaded into the other for operation when tightenedwith the clamp applied to the overflow tube, in causing the angularly related jaw portions of the respective clamp parts to coact in rigidly supporting the clamp from the tube against tilting irrespective of variations in tube diameters; and an arm projecting from one of said clamp parts and having a sleeve adapted to freely receive and guide the stem of the flush valve during raising and lowering movements of the valve; the arm being constructed of bendable material to enable adjustment of the length of the arm to be effected by laterally bending the arm in order to compensate for variations in the center to center distance between the overflow tube and seat and insure proper working and seating of the valve.

2. A centering guide for the flush valves of flush tanks having a seat for the valve and a vertical overflow tube disposed at one side of the seat, comprising a two part clamp having coacting jaws between which the overflow tube is adapted to be received; means coacting with said parts to rigidly clamp them on the overflow tube; and an arm projecting from one of the clamp parts and having a sleeve adapted to freely receive and guide the stem of the flush valve during raising and lowering movements of the valve; the arm being formed of bendable material; the vertical dimension of the arm being such as to render it relatively rigid against bending in a vertical plane in order to maintain a vertical disposition of the sleeve; the bendability of the arm enabling an adjustment of the length of the arm to be made only by a horizontal bending of the arm when necessary to compensate for different center to center distances between overflow tube and seat in different units, whereby to enable the clamp to be used with units of different dimensions.

3. A centering guide .for the flush valves of flush tanks having a seat for the valve and a vertical overflow tube disposed at one side of the seat, comprising a clamp; means for securing the clamp to the overflow tube; and an arm of bendable material projecting from the clamp and having a sleeve adapted to slidably receive and guide the stem of the flush valve; the arm being relatively rigid in a vertical plane and being bendablein a horizontal plane to enable an adjustment of the length of the arm to be made by a horizontal bending thereof when necessary to compensate for variations in center to center dimensions between overflow tubes and seats of different units.

GEORGE C. KINSFATHER. 

